Sophie and Takiko both knew that things could change in an instant. They both knew that life was often cut short. They knew that their days should not be wasted. It was just that Takiko was better at putting her thoughts into actions at that point.
---
It had been a while since the two girls had seen each other in person. Sophie had been very busy with her work in the shop, and Takiko had been even busier as the Priestess of Genbu. Somehow amidst all of the business they had found time for tea together one afternoon. Sophie spent much of the morning in nervous preparation. Takiko was one of the few people she considered friend, which was still a new and strange feeling. However, there was something else. The thought of Takiko’s smile, or the way her hair fell just so…it sent Sophie’s heart aflutter.
When Takiko arrived Sophie welcomed her into the humble parlor of their home behind the shop. Takiko wasted no time and wrapped Sophie up in a hug. Sophie stood stiff, startled by the sudden affection, but found herself easing into the embrace. Takiko smelled of pine and earth. The scent comforted her, and yet worried her at the same time. Was Takiko safe on this journey she was taking? All fortunes sought came with their own risks. She old hoped Takiko would not suffer for hers.
Takiko held on to Sophie longer than she had intended. There was a comfort in Sophie’s embrace that Takiko had come to miss on her journey as the priestess. Everything inside of the book was in danger of being shattered at a moment’s notice. Things were too dangerous to be completely calm and at ease. Though she worried about the people she had left behind, even for so brief a time, she was content to rest there against Sophie and let her worries fly away.
Sophie would be content as well, if she were not so unsure of the situation, and of her own actions. For a brief moment she imagined herself running her fingers through Takiko’s dark hair and kissing her, of all things. Her cheeks burned at the thought. She was absurdly certain that if she continued to think such things Takiko would somehow know and hate her forever. Certainly such thoughts would not…could not be reciprocated and would only cause Takiko more trouble.
“Takiko…?” Sophie spoke. She carefully adjusted herself, trying to slip away. Perhaps if she could put more distance between them any more silly thoughts would disappear.
Takiko lowered her arms from around Sophie. She slid her hands down Sophie’s arms and took hers. Sophie’s hands were red and sore from working with hats and sewing needles. Takiko’s were rough from her travels and her naginata. But they were warm and they were right. Neither girl had thought something felt so right in their hands before.
It wasn’t until Takiko leaned forward that Sophie noticed that her cheeks were as red as her own felt. She didn’t have much time to marvel at the realization, because it was then that Takiko closed the distance between them and left a hesitant kiss on her lips.
Sophie gasped and suddenly jerked backwards. A kiss. It was her first. How easily she could have written it off as just a friendly exchange, but the way Takiko held tight to her hands, and looked at her with pleading eyes, told her otherwise.
“Sophie…” Takiko said softly. She held desperately to Sophie’s hands. It was as if letting go would mean losing her completely. Had she made a mistake? Had she ruined a friendship she had come to cherish so? There had to be some way to recover.
“You don’t…” Sophie had softly. She looked down at the floor and shook her head. “You don’t want this.”
“Don’t want what?”
“…me.”
Takiko looked at Sophie in surprise before chuckling softly. She released one of Sophie’s hands so that she could reach out and lift her chin. Once again they were looking at each other. “But I do,” she told her.
Sophie shook her head again. There were tears in her eyes. “But you couldn’t possibly! I work in a hat shop while you are out doing great things. I shall never be anything great. That is what comes of being the eldest of three-.”
“That’s nonsense!” Takiko replied firmly. “You are more wonderful than you know, Sophie, and I will love you until you believe it. Longer even than that.”
Sophie gasped. “Love?”
“Yes.” Takiko smiled and kissed her once again. “Love.”
no subject
Sophie and Takiko both knew that things could change in an instant. They both knew that life was often cut short. They knew that their days should not be wasted. It was just that Takiko was better at putting her thoughts into actions at that point.
---
It had been a while since the two girls had seen each other in person. Sophie had been very busy with her work in the shop, and Takiko had been even busier as the Priestess of Genbu. Somehow amidst all of the business they had found time for tea together one afternoon. Sophie spent much of the morning in nervous preparation. Takiko was one of the few people she considered friend, which was still a new and strange feeling. However, there was something else. The thought of Takiko’s smile, or the way her hair fell just so…it sent Sophie’s heart aflutter.
When Takiko arrived Sophie welcomed her into the humble parlor of their home behind the shop. Takiko wasted no time and wrapped Sophie up in a hug. Sophie stood stiff, startled by the sudden affection, but found herself easing into the embrace. Takiko smelled of pine and earth. The scent comforted her, and yet worried her at the same time. Was Takiko safe on this journey she was taking? All fortunes sought came with their own risks. She old hoped Takiko would not suffer for hers.
Takiko held on to Sophie longer than she had intended. There was a comfort in Sophie’s embrace that Takiko had come to miss on her journey as the priestess. Everything inside of the book was in danger of being shattered at a moment’s notice. Things were too dangerous to be completely calm and at ease. Though she worried about the people she had left behind, even for so brief a time, she was content to rest there against Sophie and let her worries fly away.
Sophie would be content as well, if she were not so unsure of the situation, and of her own actions. For a brief moment she imagined herself running her fingers through Takiko’s dark hair and kissing her, of all things. Her cheeks burned at the thought. She was absurdly certain that if she continued to think such things Takiko would somehow know and hate her forever. Certainly such thoughts would not…could not be reciprocated and would only cause Takiko more trouble.
“Takiko…?” Sophie spoke. She carefully adjusted herself, trying to slip away. Perhaps if she could put more distance between them any more silly thoughts would disappear.
Takiko lowered her arms from around Sophie. She slid her hands down Sophie’s arms and took hers. Sophie’s hands were red and sore from working with hats and sewing needles. Takiko’s were rough from her travels and her naginata. But they were warm and they were right. Neither girl had thought something felt so right in their hands before.
It wasn’t until Takiko leaned forward that Sophie noticed that her cheeks were as red as her own felt. She didn’t have much time to marvel at the realization, because it was then that Takiko closed the distance between them and left a hesitant kiss on her lips.
Sophie gasped and suddenly jerked backwards. A kiss. It was her first. How easily she could have written it off as just a friendly exchange, but the way Takiko held tight to her hands, and looked at her with pleading eyes, told her otherwise.
“Sophie…” Takiko said softly. She held desperately to Sophie’s hands. It was as if letting go would mean losing her completely. Had she made a mistake? Had she ruined a friendship she had come to cherish so? There had to be some way to recover.
“You don’t…” Sophie had softly. She looked down at the floor and shook her head. “You don’t want this.”
“Don’t want what?”
“…me.”
Takiko looked at Sophie in surprise before chuckling softly. She released one of Sophie’s hands so that she could reach out and lift her chin. Once again they were looking at each other. “But I do,” she told her.
Sophie shook her head again. There were tears in her eyes. “But you couldn’t possibly! I work in a hat shop while you are out doing great things. I shall never be anything great. That is what comes of being the eldest of three-.”
“That’s nonsense!” Takiko replied firmly. “You are more wonderful than you know, Sophie, and I will love you until you believe it. Longer even than that.”
Sophie gasped. “Love?”
“Yes.” Takiko smiled and kissed her once again. “Love.”